1950s & 60s Goldenhill & Sandyford

Here are more of David Wood’s recollections of village life in Goldenhill and Sandyford in the 1950s and early 1960s.

Woolrich’s chip was next door to the Jolly Collier pub and on the corner of Drummond Street was Eric Parker’s electrical business.  Dutton’s ice cream manufactory was situated there at the top of the street.

Still on the same side of the road there was a café, Crawshaw’s shop, the oatcake shop and a ladies hair salon.

After the hair salon there was a couple of houses with small forecourts, one of these was occupied by the Eptlett sisters, one of which was the head teacher at Church Infants school.

Their ancestors were plumbers and beer sellers in 1912 and I always believed that the name was spelled as Eplett but the 1912 version says Eptlett, does anyone know the true spelling.

The Reliable Stores was next in line, in village terms this was quite a large shop and it served the community very well. We bought our first 3 piece suite, dining table and chairs from there in 1971.

Who can forget Bill Barlows newsagents which was later taken over by Reg Scott, we bought our air gun pellets from there.

In those days we had to have licences for our air guns, they cost seven shillings and sixpence from Hanley police station.

On the next corner was the Duke of Wellington and the licensee was George Bradbury.

Garbett Street or Church Street previously, was home to Lear’s shop and the  Miners Welfare Institute club rooms, which for some unknown reason was called the Uffers.

The Uffers, spelt with an H if you like, was the village snooker hall and it cost sixpence per half hour to play on one of the two tables. In my day it was generally full of lads who were too young to drink but needed somewhere to go, it was supervised by Fred who was a war veteran, he had an artificial leg.

Look out for more of David’s stories in his next episode coming soon.

5 comments to 1950s & 60s Goldenhill & Sandyford

  • Phil Eptlett

    The correct spelling is Eptlett. It changed from Eplett sometime in the 1890’s. Why know one knows.

  • David Wood

    Thanks Phil, it is really nice to get a comment, it proves that people are actually reading my ramblings and taking note.

    David Wood

  • Phil Eptlett

    The latest theory to the name change is that as very few people could write business was conducted by word of mouth. Therefore it is assumed that the Registrar misheard the name and copied it down wrong on a marriage certificate. So that was it forever.

  • David Wood

    Hi Phil, nice to hear from you again. I can see how that happenedbecause I have seen it on the census forms. If you are on Facebook, have a look at Goldenhill Memories. We have been going for about six weeks and it is developing very well. David Wood

  • Frank Whittle

    My mum was a Eptlett before getting married, she lived in Goldenhill all her life I can remember Andrew Steet and Park Farm View but she lived on the High Street opposite Jeffries Garage before getting married. I Delivered papers for Reg Scott and the Eptlett sisters were my great Aunts. I Joined the Army Cadets based in a Nissan hut by the British Legion before they moved to the Drill Hall on Scotia Road. My Great Uncle was landlord of The Duke of Wellington pub some time before WW1 he was a fine footballer and played for Goldenhill Wanderers when they won the Senitnel Cup, all my schooling was in Goldenhill at the CofE Infants then the Secondary Modern. We used to hang around in the Café. I moved away to get married and was amazed at the changes when I visited. I have pictures and a leaflet from when the War Memorial was opened at the church it being a WW2 memorial which was quite rare.

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